Storage container

ABSTRACT

A storage container comprising a base, two side walls, a front wall, a rear wall and a top cover, the top cover is pivotally hinged to a frame member and at an assembled position of the container the walls are erect and a bottom edge of the walls is articulated to the base and a top edge of the walls is articulated to the frame member. and at a collapsed position the base is articulated with the frame member and the walls are received in a space between the base and the top cover.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage containers and more particularly to such storage containers which are collapsible into a compact size for storage and shipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Collapsible storage containers are commonly used in a variety of applications and are in particular convenient for storage of large capacities and their transportation, and on the other hand are conveniently ‘knocked-down’ into collapsed positions for minimum space consumption, used for storage of the container or shipment thereof.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,056 discloses a folding container comprising an upper frame having two pairs of opposing frame portions each having an engagement portion; a bottom frame with a closed end and having opposing frame portions which respectively correspond to those of the upper frame, each frame portion of the bottom frame having a pivotally support portion; two side plates pivotally supported at their lower end portions by the pivotally support portions, respectively, which are formed on one of the two pairs of frame portions of the bottom frame so that the side plates are able to pivot upward, each side plate being slidably supported at both lateral end portions thereof by the upper frame, the upper end portions of the side plates being engaged with the respective engagement portions formed on one of the two pairs of frame portions of the upper frame; and two end plates pivotally supported at their lower end portions by the pivotally support portions, respectively, which are formed on the other pair of frame portions of the bottom frame, the upper end portions of the end plates being engaged with the respective engagement portions formed on the other pair of frame portions of the upper frame.

A different type of collapsible container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,161 directed to a collapsible shipping/storage box having a rectangular floor, a pair of parallel side walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor and movable between erect positions projecting upward from the floor and collapsed positions close to and generally parallel with the floor, and a pair of parallel end walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor between the side walls and movable between erect positions projecting upward from the floor and collapsed positions close to and generally parallel with the floor. A rigid annular top frame has side members at upper edges of the side walls and end members at upper edges of the end walls. Respective pivots or hinges are provided between the upper edges of the side walls and the side members. Latches secure the upper edges of the end walls to the end members only in the erect positions of the end walls.

A collapsible container is disclosed also in U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,354 formed from a single sheet of a plastic material to form a box. The container has a bottom panel and first and second pairs of like wall panels integrally hingedly connected to the bottom panels so that the walls can be erected from a collapsed position to an upright position and vice versa. The end panels include hinged locking flaps formed with locking ribs to releasable engage with the adjacent edges of the side panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible storage container which is easily erected and assembled into its operative assembled position and into its collapsed position, without the need of any tools and wherein the assemblage is self-contained.

The invention calls for a storage container comprising a base, two side walls, a front wall, a rear wall and a top cover (lid), wherein said top cover is pivotally hinged to a frame member, wherein at an assembled position of the container said walls are erect and a bottom edge of the walls is articulated to the base and a top edge of said walls is articulated to the frame member; and a collapsed position wherein the base is articulated with the frame member and wherein the walls are received in a space between the base and the top cover.

The container is typically made of molded plastic material and the side walls, front wall and rear wall (collectively referred to as ‘walls’), as well as the, the base and the top cover are rigid and solid boards. The term ‘solid’ denotes uniform, homogeneous boards of material. Even more so, the walls ant the top cover are reinforced so as to be competent of bearing load, e.g. of a person sitting on the container at the assembled position, etc.

The container of the present invention may comprise any one or more of the following features and characteristics:

-   -   at the collapsed position the base is substantially received         within the frame member;     -   the base comprises an upwardly extending rim whereby at the         collapsed position the side walls extend flush over an upside         surface of the base and do not exceed the rim;     -   at the collapsed position the side walls are folded over the         base and the front wall and the rear wall are detached from the         base and are received within the frame;     -   a lock mechanism is provided for securing the container at the         collapsed position, so as to secure the base to the frame member         and the top cover at the closed position so as to prevent         spontaneous opening of the collapsed container;     -   at the assembled position side edges of the side walls are         detachably engaged with corresponding side edges of the front         wall and the rear wall; such engagement may be for example a         projection formed at the front wall and the rear wall slidingly         engagable within corresponding slots of the side walls;     -   the side walls are pivotally articulated at their bottom edge to         the base and are detachably articulable at their top edge to the         frame member;     -   the front wall and the rear wall are detachably articulable at         their bottom edge to the base and at their top edge to the frame         member;     -   alternatively, the front wall and the rear wall are pivotally         articulated at their bottom edge to the base and are detachably         articulable at their top edge to the frame member; and         respectively the side walls are detachably articulable at their         bottom edge to the base and at their top edge to the frame         member;     -   articulation of the walls with the respective frame member and         base is facilitated by readily detachable means, e.g. a         snap-type engagement, etc.     -   at least one carrying handle is fitted at the top cover, wherein         at the assembled position said at least one handle functions as         a handle to facilitate opening the top cover and at the         collapsed position the at least one handle serves for carrying         the collapsed assembly;     -   at least one of the at least one carrying handle functions as a         lock to secure the assemblage at its collapsed position and         prevent spontaneous opening thereof while carrying;     -   the walls are detachably articulable at their respective edges         to the frame member and the base by snap-type attachment;     -   at the collapsed position the thickness of the assemblage does         not exceed the thickness of the frame member. However, if the         top cover has a thickness projecting from the frame member, thus         the thickness of the of the assemblage does not exceed the         thickness of the frame member with articulated cover;     -   the height of the side walls is substantially half or less its         length, whereby at the collapsed position the side walls lie         flush over a top surface of the base with neighboring top edges;     -   the frame member is formed at side portions thereof with         carrying handles;     -   the top cover is pivotally secured to the frame member by at         least two hinges fitted at rear edges thereof;     -   at least some of the walls and the top cover are formed with         reinforcement ribs for rigidifying thereof;     -   at the collapsed position of the container, all the components         of the container are contained within the collapsed assemblage;     -   the frame member may be a uniform solid annular member or may be         integrated into a uniform annular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, an embodiment will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates the container according to the present invention at an erect, operative position, with the top cover closed;

FIG. 1B is the same as FIG. 1A, with the top cover open;

FIGS. 2A to 2C are consecutive steps illustrating how the frame member and articulated cover are detached from the container;

FIGS. 3A to 3E are consecutive steps illustrating how the walls of the container are knocked down;

FIGS. 4A to 4E are consecutive steps illustrating how the collapsed container is compacted into its self contained, collapsed position;

FIG. 4F is a longitudinal section through the collapsed container;

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate hoe the container is carried in its collapsed position;

FIG. 5D is a side view of the container at its collapsed position;

FIG. 5E is a section through the container at its collapsed position;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are consecutive steps illustrating how the collapsed container is opened;

FIG. 6D is an enlargement of the portion marked D in FIG. 4F;

FIG. 7 illustrates sub assemblies of the container at their respective flooded position;

FIGS. 8A to 8E are consecutive steps illustrating how the collapsed container is erected;

FIGS. 9A to 9E are further consecutive steps illustrating how the container is erected into its useful position;

FIGS. 10A to 10C are consecutive final steps of assembling the container; and

FIG. 10D is a section taken along line X-X in FIG. 10B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A container in accordance with the present invention is generally designated 10 and is illustrated in its assembled, operative position in FIGS. 1A and 1B wherein FIG. 1B illustrates the container with its top cover/lid 12 open and prevented from falling backwards by a pair of strands 14 articulated at one end and to the cover 12 and at another end to the frame member 18 as will be discussed hereinafter.

As can be seen, with reference being made also to FIG. 7, the container 10 comprises a base 20 integrally formed with a peripherally extending annular rim 22, upwardly expanding from the base 20. A pair of side walls 24A and 24B are pivotally articulated to the base 20 at their respective bottom edge 26, as will be explained with more detail hereinafter. The container 10 is formed with a front wall 30 and a rear wall 32, which like the side walls 24A and 24B are rigid and solid panels and have their edges adjoining with the side edges of the side walls. For sake of practicality and manufacturing convenience, side edges of the side walls and of the front and rear walls are identical and are adapted for easy engagement with mating edges, as will be explained hereinafter.

As can be noted in the drawings, at the unassembled (knocked down) position of the container the side walls 24A and 24B remain articulated to the base 20 and the cover 12 remains assembled to the frame member 18, the latter being a uniform and solid annular member fitted at its opposite side with indentions 34, serving as carrying handles. As can further be noted, the top cover 12 is fitted with a carrying handle assembly generally designated 40 and retractable into an indention 42 composed of adjoining indentions in the top cover 12 and the frame member 18.

Further attention is now directed to FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrating a first sequence of steps for knocking down the container. At a first step, the frame member 18 is detached from the side walls 24A and 24B and from the front wall 30 and the rear wall 32 by releasing a pair of snap engagements 48 whereby the support member 18 is now detached from the four walls and may be separated therefrom (FIG. 2B) and may be set aside together with the pivotally articulated top cover (FIG. 2C).

The next step in the sequence for knocking down the container is illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C. First, the interlocking engagement between the front and rear walls 30 and 32 respectively, and the base 20 is disengaged by releasing a snap fastener 50. Then, the front wall and the rear wall 30 and 32 respectively are disengaged from the side walls 24A and 24B by disengagement of the snap fastener 54 (FIG. 3D) allowing for the removal of the front wall 30 and the rear wall 32 (FIG. 3C). The side walls 24A and 24B remain at their upright position owing to a snap-type pivot and retention arrangement (in the form of a projecting ridge 53 adapted foe arresting edge 55 at the bottom side edge of the side walls 24A and 24B, as seen in FIG. 8C). In order to collapse the side walls 24A and 24B to the position seen in FIG. 3E, moderate force has to be applied (FIG. 3C) to overcome the projecting ridge 53.

It is noticed that in the position of FIG. 3E, the side walls 24A and 24B extend flush over the inside surface of the base 20 such that they do not exceed the top edge of the annular rim 22 of base 20.

The sub-assembly 49 consisting of the frame member 18 and top cover 12 is then placed upside down (FIG. 4A) in a position suitable for receiving the front wall 30 (FIG. 4B) and the rear wall 32 (FIG. 4C), however, leaving sufficient space within the frame member 18 to receive sub-assembly 51 consisting of the base 20 and the two side walls 24A and 24B articulated thereto, which are placed such that the side walls 24A and 24B are laid over the rear wall 32 (FIG. 4D) and finally as seen in FIGS. 4E and 4F, the collapsed container is self-contained such that the base 20 is fully received within the frame member 18 and whereby the thickness of the collapsed container is substantially that of the frame member 18 and the top cover 12. It is further appreciated that the sub-assembly 51 is snappingly arrested within the frame member 18 so as to prevent its spontaneous departing therefrom and further, is retained in place by means of the locking handle assembly 40, as will be discussed hereinafter.

In FIG. 4F, the container 10 is illustrated in its knocked-down, i.e. collapsed position wherein it is fully self-contained as discussed hereinabove. As can further be noticed, in FIGS. 4E and 4F, the base 20 is fitted, adjacent one of its side edges with a pair of wheels 60 to facilitate locomoting the container in its assembled position, even when it is loaded with equipment, however, it is appreciated that the wheels 60 barely project from the bottom surface of the base 20 and thus do not constitute an obstacle in storage of the container and inspecting thereof.

FIG. 4G illustrates the sub-assembly 51 snappingly arrested within frame member 18 so as to prevent spontaneous departing therefrom. Furthermore, snaps 64 extending from the base 20 (FIG. 6A) retain snaps 48 extending from the frame member 18.

Pulling out the handle assembly 40 in direction of arrow 61 in FIG. 5A results in locking engagement of the top cover 12 with the frame member 18 and of the sub-assembly 51 within the sub-assembly 49 whereby the collapsed container may be carried by handle 40 and may be conveniently carried and displaced like a suitcase (FIG. 5C).

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 6 to 10 illustrating how the collapsed container is reassembled into its erect, operative storage position.

First, as seen in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the sub-assembly 51 consisting of the base 20 and the side walls 24A and 24B are detached from the sub-assembly 49 consisting of the frame member 18 with the associated top cover 12. This is facilitated by disengagement of the snap-type engagement mechanism as in FIGS. 6A and 6B by depressing latches 64 in direction of arrows 66 and lifting the sub-assembly 51 and placing it aside of the sub-assembly 49.

Then the sub-assembly 51 is turned over into the position as illustrated in FIG. 7 and the side walls 24A and 24B are erected by displacing in direction of arrow 68 (FIG. 8 a) into the position of FIG. 8B, overcoming the snap-type retention mechanism (in the form of projecting ridge 53 adapted for arresting edge 55 at the bottom side edge of the side walls 24A and 24B, as seen in FIG. 8C), so as to retain the side walls at their substantially upright position (FIG. 8D).

Once the bottom sub-assembly 51 has been erected into the position of FIG. 8D, the front wall 30 and the rear wall 32 can be assembled as well by placing the panels of the front and rear walls between the respective edges of the side walls 24A and 24B whereby a lateral projection 72 extending along at least a portion of each of the front walls 30 and the back wall 32 is slidingly engaged with a corresponding longitudinal groove 74 (FIG. 9B) of the side walls and then, upon fully inserting each of the front wall 30 and rear wall 32 they will engage in a snapping manner with the snap fastener 50 of the base 20 (FIG. 8E), thereby each of the front wall and the rear wall become engaged at their respective bottom edge to the base 20 and at their respective sides to the respective side walls 24A and 24B. Thus, forming together a rigid closed boxed-like structure (in FIG. 9E illustrated an instant before completing the assembly).

At the next step, the cover sub-assembly 49 has to be securely placed and articulated over the walls as illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B. This is carried out by snap-engagement of the snap engagements 48 at each of the side portions of the frame member with the respective side walls, thereby rigid defining the structure of the assembled container to an extent where it can bear loads, e.g. of a person sitting on the top cover 12, etc.

The container is now ready for storage and can also be rolled over a surface by aid of the rollers 60 formed at the bottom surface of the container.

Knocking down the container is carried out, as discussed hereinabove, in a reversed sequence of operations.

While there has been shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A storage container comprising a base, two side walls, a front wall, a rear wall and a top cover, wherein said top cover is pivotally hinged to a frame member, wherein at an assembled position of the container said walls are erect and a bottom edge of the walls is articulated to the base and a top edge of said walls is articulated to the frame member; and at a collapsed position the base is articulated with the frame member and wherein the walls are received in a space between the base and the top cover.
 2. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein at the collapsed position the base is substantially received within the frame member.
 3. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises an upwardly extending rim whereby at the collapsed position the side walls extend flush over an upside surface of the base and do not exceed the rim.
 4. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein at the collapsed position the side walls are folded over the base and the front wall and the rear wall are detached form the base and are received within the frame.
 5. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein a lock mechanism is provided for securing the container at the collapsed position, so as to secure the base to the frame member and the top cover at the closed position so as to prevent spontaneous opening of the collapsed container.
 6. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein at the assembled position side edges of the side walls are detachably engaged with corresponding side edges of the front wall and the rear wall.
 7. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the side walls, the front wall and the rear wall are rigid and solid boards.
 8. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the side walls are pivotally articulated at their bottom edge to the base and are detachably articulable at their top edge to the frame member.
 9. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are detachably articulable at their bottom edge to the base and at their top edge to the frame member.
 10. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are pivotally articulated at their bottom edge to the base and are detachably articulable at their top edge to the frame member.
 11. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the side walls are detachably articulable at their bottom edge to the base and at their top edge to the frame member.
 12. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the base, the walls, the frame member and the top cover are made of molded plastic.
 13. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein at least one carrying handle is fitted at the top cover, wherein at the assembled position said at least one handle functions as a handle to facilitate opening the top cover and at the collapsed position the at least one handle serves for carrying the collapsed assembly.
 14. A storage container according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the at least one carrying handle functions as a lock to secure the assemblage at its collapsed position and prevent spontaneous opening thereof while carrying.
 15. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the walls are detachably articulable at their respective edges to the frame member and the base by snap-type attachment.
 16. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein at the collapsed position the thickness of the assemblage does not exceed the thickness of the frame member with articulated cover.
 17. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the height of the side walls is substantially half or less its length, whereby at the collapsed position the side walls lie flush over a top surface of the base with neighboring top edges.
 18. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the frame member is formed at side portions thereof with carrying handles.
 19. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein the top cover is pivotally secured to the frame member by at least two hinges fitted at rear edges thereof.
 20. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the walls and the top cover are formed with reinforcement ribs for rigidifying thereof.
 21. A storage container according to claim 1, wherein at the collapsed position of the container, all the components of the container are contained within the collapsed assemblage. 